GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 43.2 to 43.7cm (17”-18”)
Colour: Mixture of grey and black hairs with cream areas. 
Coat: Harsh, offstanding and straight. Smooth on the muzzle and lower legs.
Gait: Clean, short brisk and sharp steps.
With their foxlike heads and confident carriage, these members of the Spitz family present a bold appearance. The dark eyes with the surrounding well defined ‘spectacles’ of lighter grey hair. The wedge shaped head carries small erect ears which show through the hair on the head. The neck with its large ruff, is arched and runs into a short, compact, square body. The high set tail with its black tip ends preferably in a double ring over the back. The hindquarters have profuse trousers and cream coloured catlike feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
While most breeds can claim to have had a useful purpose for their existence, the Keeshond does not. All this breed has to offer is a fantastic character which make them ideal companions. Their intelligence is remarkable and having been bred to live in confined spaces on Dutch barges, they must be agile, surefooted and nimble. Their clownish, slightly mischievous behaviour, makes them wonderful pets for energetic children. The coat needs a good brush once a week to keep it free of knots.
HISTORY
Like all breeds in the Spitz family, the origins of this breed are found in the Arctic Spitz. Originally known as the Dutch Barge dog, for over five centuries they travelled up and down the River Rhine with their Dutch owners. The title ‘Keeshond’ came from the Dutch patriot leader de Gyselaer’s dog who was called ‘Kees’, a dog who later became the symbol of his master’s political movement. However, after the suppression of this party by the Prince of Orange in 1576, the breed’s popularity decreased rapidly as their owners avoided political identification. Because of the Keeshond’s even temperament, loyalty, and the fact they would bark at unwanted intruders on the barges, the river boat captains maintained a nucleus of these dogs thus saving them from extinction.